In late 1997 she created a band with the remaining members of Buckley's band called Black Beetle and finished an eponymous album which was never released. This was the first project where she was writing as well as fronting a band. Jeff buckley was her boyfriend at the time he drowned in '97.
According to Songfacts, Wasser took her curious stage name from the fact that she once attended a fancy dress party as an officer of the NYPD.
Anyone
Joan as Police Woman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Anyone would rather
Shift their eyes
Than open up their leather
But you, you seem to be the one
So try me please
I'm a better dancer
The lightest floating feather
Is how I feel when I'm with you
So now that I know you
I'm ready to show you
How good I feel
'Cause anyone can see through me
But you're not anyone
Blaring car horns howl
Through feedback from this city
But I don't hear it now,
The chaos that surrounds me
No, you, you hold my mind's desire
You give me shelter
From all that's done un-pretty
My sold-out, felt-up
Retreated little secrets
Are tucked inside the warmth of you
So now that I know you
I'm ready to show you
How good I feel
'cause anyone can see through me
But you're not anyone
It's been a long time a long time
I've walked alone, I've warmed to it
But now I slip right in
I'm ready to start to be ready
So hold me now
You who came in pieces
'Cause I like whole pies
Underdone a little
But I feel how you burn inside
So now that I know you
I'm so ready to show you
How good I feel
'cause anyone can see through me
But you're not anyone
Anyone can see through me
But you're not anyone
Anyone can see through me
But you're not anyone
The lyrics of "Anyone" by Joan as Police Woman seem to be addressed to a person who has managed to break down the singer's defenses and make her feel safe enough to show vulnerability. In the first stanza, she acknowledges that most people would rather avoid emotional openness, but the addressee seems to be an exception. She believes that this person is worth trying to connect with on a deeper level, as they make her feel light and comfortable.
The second stanza contains some sensory imagery that conveys the idea of being in a noisy, chaotic environment but feeling disconnected from it thanks to the presence of the addressee, who holds the singer's "mind's desire." This suggests that the two of them have some kind of intimate bond that allows them to tune out the outside world. In the last stanza, the singer clearly expresses her readiness to be with this person and reveals that she has struggled with being alone in the past, but she now feels ready to let her guard down.
Overall, the song seems to be a celebration of trust, openness, and the power of human connection to help us overcome feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
I won't cry
I won't shed tears
Anyone would rather
Most people would prefer
Shift their eyes
Look away
Than open up their leather
Than open up themselves
But you, you seem to be the one
But you, you are different
So try me please
So give me a chance
I'm a better dancer
I'm more capable than I seem
Than it seems
Than I appear
The lightest floating feather
Extremely light and graceful
Is how I feel when I'm with you
I feel light and graceful when I'm with you
So now that I know you
Now that I've gotten to know you
I'm ready to show you
I'm ready to reveal to you
How good I feel
How happy I am
'Cause anyone can see through me
Because anyone can see my vulnerabilities and weaknesses
But you're not anyone
But you are special
Blaring car horns howl
Loud car horns honk
Through feedback from this city
Echoing sounds from this urban area
But I don't hear it now,
But I'm not focusing on that right now,
The chaos that surrounds me
The disorder and confusion around me
No, you, you hold my mind's desire
No, you hold my heart's desire
You give me shelter
You protect me and make me feel safe
From all that's done un-pretty
From all the unpleasant and ugly things that have happened
My sold-out, felt-up
My experiences of being used and taken advantage of
Retreated little secrets
Hidden and withdrawn secrets
Are tucked inside the warmth of you
Are kept safe and secure within our relationship
It's been a long time a long time
It's been quite a while
I've walked alone, I've warmed to it
I'm used to being alone
But now I slip right in
But now I feel comfortable and belong
I'm ready to start to be ready
I am ready to start preparing
So hold me now
Embrace me now
You who came in pieces
You who had your own brokenness
'Cause I like whole pies
Because I like things that are complete
Underdone a little
Slightly imperfect
But I feel how you burn inside
But I can sense your passion and intensity
I'm so ready to show you
I am very eager to reveal to you
Anyone can see through me
Anyone can sense my vulnerabilities and weaknesses
But you're not anyone
But you are special
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOAN WASSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind